I called several places today to see if I could trade my '07 Exocet SCross 160 for a SUP. The places included Naish in Kailua, Windward Water Sports, Hawaiian Water Sports. Nobody is taking windsrfing trade-ins anymore. Everybody's telling me windsurfing's dying out on Oahu.

Windsurfing in the mainland has been on the decline since 1995.
Windsurfing on Oahu since 1998.
Maui is the favored windsurf destination.
You think that's bad? Try PuertoRico, once known as "hawaii east". No rentals, only ONE guy teaching, bring your own gear, none for sale.

Concluding that windsurfing is dying in HI because you cannot trade in a 5+ year old board for a SUP may be a reach.

You're right about that and, no, I didn't base my conslusion solely on that. What does is matter to a dealer what to take in as trade-in: a SUP or a windsurf board and make a few hundred dollars? There's less gear available on the island and fewer retailers. Lessons are too few. There's less demand for windsurfing items; that's the conclusion.

I called several places today to see if I could trade my '07 Exocet SCross 160 for a SUP. The places included Naish in Kailua, Windward Water Sports, Hawaiian Water Sports. Nobody is taking windsrfing trade-ins anymore. Everybody's telling me windsurfing's dying out on Oahu.

Yes they are out of the business of renting windsurfing gear partly because they are no longer allowed to rent it directly at the beach, people had to schlep the gear down the street and it was getting damaged, that's the story at least.

the very reason the op is trading his "light wind" board in for an SUP is the biggest clue. seems as though the techy/specialist culture of windsurfing is putting itself out of business? has been for decades? when i take my 91 liter out into a gale, and say to myself, "this board just doesn't have any upwind power." maybe this fashion for ever shorter boards that work IF and only IF the wind is strong and steady might be yet another clue that windsurfing is designing stuff for utter perfect conditions? but, i'm just some controversial kook in florida, what the hell do i know?

Yes, Kanaha is much less crowded now, I can't comment on Sprecks, I haven't sailed there in at least 10 years.

There are lots of Kites out, but except for the odd dummy, they stay mostly downwind where they're supposed to.

I'm a better sailor now, so that figures into the equation, but compared to when I started sailing there in the late '80s it's much easier to get a wave to yourself.

Hell it was a very small day, last year (waist to maybe head high) but I was out at Hookipa with what seemed like about 10 guys. No problem finding parking or rigging space uncrowded in the lineup. I like it. As long as it's popular enough to keep a few manufacturers in business, I'm happy

Yes, Kanaha is much less crowded now, Hell it was a very small day, last year (waist to maybe head high) but I was out at Hookipa with what seemed like about 10 guys. No problem finding parking or rigging space uncrowded in the lineup. I like it. As long as it's popular enough to keep a few manufacturers in business, I'm happy

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